Extrusion press with die changer

ABSTRACT

An extrusion press platen has a vertical rear face from which a passage extends forward through the platen. Slidable horizontally along said face is an extrusion die holder normally located in line with the passage. At one side of the holder is disposed a longitudinally movable rigid elongated member between the inner end of which and the holder there is a slide. Means are provided for moving the rigid member lengthwise to push the die holder laterally into a predetermined position at one side of the platen passage, whereupon a driven chain attached to the slide causes the slide to push the holder from that position to a second position out beyond the adjacent side of the platen, where means are provided for receiving the die holder.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,844,151 Huertgen Oct. 29, 1974 [5 1 EXTRUSION PRESS'WITH DIE CHANGER Primary mi C- W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Robert M. Rogers [75] Inventor. Helmut B. Huertgen, Pittsburgh, Pa. Attorney, g or Firm Brown, y Flick &

[73] Assignee: Sutton Engineering Company, Peckham Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 397,854 An extrusion press platen has a vertical rear face from which a passage extends forward through the platen.

[ U 8 Cl 72,263 Slidable horizontally along said face is an extrusion die holder normally located in line with the passage. At

[51] Int. Cl. B2lc 232/015) one side of the holder is disposed a longitudinally [58] Field of Search 72/263, 257, 5 movable rigid e1 ongate d member between the inner end of which and the holder there is a slide. Means are provided for moving the rigid member lengthwise to [56] References Cited push the die holder laterally into a predetermined po- UNITED STATES PATENTS sition at one side of the platen passage, whereupon a 3 478 561 11/1969 Samuel 72/263 driven Chain attached to the he Causes the Slide 316301065 12/1971 M005 72/263 P the holder from that Peemen to a Second P tion out beyond the adjacent side of the platen, where means are provided for receiving the die holder.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures i l i PATENTEUHBI 29 m4 SIEE'I m4 PATENTEUUBT 29 1914 3.844.151 sum as; g

1 5 1 4 4 3 43 w n. m

PATENTEIJ um" 29 1974 k wnw EXTRUSION PRESS WITH DIE CHANGER Extrusion press dies are often mounted in die holders that can be moved laterally out of operating position so that the dies can be changed when necessary. Various ways of moving the die holders into and out of position have been proposed, including fluid pressure cylinders provided with pistons connected by piston rods with the die holders to push the holders out to one side of the press and to return them to operating position. It is very desirable to use pistons and cylinders for this purpose because it may be necessary for the die holder assembly to shear off the extrusion as the holder is moved laterally, and a fluid pressure cylinder can provide enough force for this purpose. On the other hand, there is a major objection to such a cylinder, which is that the required long stroke of the piston makes it necessary to use a long cylinder that may have to project several feet from the side of the press. This not only takes up space beside the press that could be useful for other purposes, but the projecting cylinder becomes an obstructing nuisance and also a hazard. The same objection is present if in place of a cylinder a rack bar and gear are used, because the bar likewise would have to project a considerable distance from the side of the-press.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extrusion press with means capable of exerting high pressure for moving the die holder laterally just far enough to shear off an extrusion, and with other means for then moving the die holder the rest of the way out to the side of the press, with neither of the die holder moving means projecting an objectionable distance from the side of the press. Another object is to provide means at the side of the press for receiving from the press a die holder and then quickly shifting it into another position while simultaneously moving a similar die holder into position for insertion in the press.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. I is a vertical cross section through an extrusion press looking forward toward the extrusion die;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken from the left-hand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. I partly in section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged side view taken on the line Vl-Vl of FIG. I; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line VlIVII of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the extrusion press has heavy front and rear upright platens, only the front platen 1 being shown. The two platens are connected by four heavy tie rods 2 that take the thrust of the extruding operation; Spaced behind the front As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the extrusion die is removably mounted in a recess in a block that forms a die holder 7, which also contains backup rings 8 and 9 that engage a pressure ring 10 mounted in the enlarged rear end of the passage through the platen. The die isheld in place by a U-shape clamping plate 11 bolted to the die holder. The die holder is supported by horizontal track plates 12 and I3 supported by a bracket 14 secured to the platen below the holder. These plates are provided with aligned longitudinal ribs 16 and I7 that form a guideway between them and the platen into which a rib 18 on the bottom of the die holder fits as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The top of the die holder is provided with a similar rib 19 that extends up into a guideway formed between the platen and a rib 20 along the bottom of a guide bar bolted to the rear face of the platen. The ribs and guideways hold the die holder against the face of the platen and yet permit the holder to be moved back and forth across the platen.

It is a feature of this invention that means are mounted at one side of the die holder for moving it laterally a relatively short distance, such means including a longitudinally movable rigid elongated member that projects only a short distance from the side of the press to avoid being an objectionable obstruction. Although this member could be a rack bar moved by gears supported by the platen, it is preferred that it be composed of a piston rod 22 and piston 23 mounted in a horizontal fluid pressure cylinder 24 bolted to the face of the platen. The inner end of the cylinder is spaced from the die holder. Between the cylinder and the die holder and engaging the latter there is aslide 25 that preferably extends outwardly beneath the cylinder as shown in FIG. I. The bottom of this slide straddles rib I6 on track plate 12. The piston rod extends out of the inner end of the cylinder for pushing the die holder across passage 5 extending through the platen. For best results, the piston rod does not engage the adjacent side of the die holder directly, but bears against an intermediate upwardly extending part of the slide that is provided with a guideway 26 in its top for receiving the rib 20 on the upper guide bar as shown in FIG. 2. The top of the slide preferably extends outwardly over the cylinder. Rigidly mounted in the side of the slide engaging the die holder is a horizontal key 27 shown in FIG. 1 that fits in a slot extending from front to back of the die holder. The upper and lower walls of this slot are provided with grooves with which the key interlocks. The stroke of the piston is just great enough for it to cause the slide to push the die holder laterally far enough to shear off an extrusion die holder and into the platen passage. The entire die holder does not need to be platen is a billet container 3 indicated in broken lines moved across the passage in order to do this.

Another feature of this invention is that when the die holder has reached the predetermined position just mentioned, indicated in dotted lines in FIG. I, it is moved the rest of the way across the platen and out to one side of it by a chain attached to the slide. The chain pulls the slide away from the extended piston rod and thereby causes the slide to push the die holder out to its outermost or die-changing position beside the press. The chain preferably is an endless chain 30 extending around a pair of sprockets. One sprocket 31 is located below the outer end of cylinder 24, and the other sprocket 32 is rotatably supported by track bracket 14 near the opposite side of the platen. The upper length of the chain extends along the top of the track plates.

The chain does not extend outwardly from the side of the platen any further than the cylinder. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the ends of the chain are fastened to the opposite ends of a block 33 disposed in a recess 34 in the bottom of the outer end'of' the slide, where the block is held by vertical screws 35. The outer sprocket 31 is mounted on the shaft 36 of a reversible motor 37, preferably a hydraulic motor supported by a bracket 38 bolted to the adjusting side of the platen.

After the piston rod has pushed the die holder along the track plates as far as it can, the driven chain starts to pull the slide in the same direction and thereby causes the slide to continue to push the die holder laterally until a stop block 40 bolted to the side of the slide engages an adjustable stop 41 mounted in a bracket 42 secured to that side of the platen. These stops arrest the movement of the slide after it has pushed the die holder onto a die-changing table 43 mounted on a support 44 projecting from the side of the platen. The table and its support extend lengthwise of the press; that is, parallel to passage through the platen. The table is long enough to support two die holders, one in front of or behind the other as shown in H0. 5. For this purpose the top of the table is formed from a pair of longitudinally spaced guide plates 45 and 46, each of which is provided with a pair of spaced transverse rib 47 for receiving between them the bottom rib of a die holder as it is pushed off the track plates and onto the table. The table can be moved forward and backward on its support far enough to align either guide plate with the track plates. This movement is accomplished by a fluid pressure cylinder 48 mounted on the bottom of support 44 beneath hte table and provided with a piston rod 49, the projecting end of which is secured to a bracket 50 extending down from one end of the table.

OPERATION When a die is to be changed, fluid pressure is delivered to the outer end of the main cylinder 24 to cause its piston rod to move the die holder sideways to a predetermined position out of line with the passage through the platen. The chain may be driven at the same time by motor 37, but if not the motor then is started operating to cause the chain to pull the slide away from the fully extended piston rod and thereby move the die holder out onto the end of the table that happens to be in position to receive it. Assuming by way of example that it is the rear plate 45 on which the die holder comes to rest, the table then is moved by cylinder 47 toward the back of the press, which causes the die holder to slide off the rear end of slide key 27. At the same time, another die holder 52 that had been placed on the front guide plate 46 is moved by the table into interlocking relationship with the key until the guide plate is aligned with the track plates. Thus, the moving table disconnects one die holder from the slide and moves it out of position and then moves the other die holder into a position where it is connected with the slide ready to be moved sideways onto the track plates extending across the platen. While these things are occuring, fluid pressure is admitted to the inner end of cylinder 24 and exhausted from its outer end so that its piston and rod are retracted. The motor then is reversed to cause the chain to pull the slide all of the way back toward the cylinder, and the slide in turn pulls the die holder along with it until the slide again engages the piston rod. The new die then is in operating position in alignment with the passage through the platen.

The die changing system disclosed herein is quick and simple to operate, in addition to which it has the big advantage that it does not require a fluid pressure cylinder or the like to project an objectionable distance from one side of the front platen.

According to the provision of the patent statutes, l have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

l claim:

1. in an extrusion press, a platen having a vertical face and an extrusion-receiving passage perpendicular to said face, an extrusion die holder slidable horizontally along said face and normally located in line with said passage, a longitudinally movable rigid elongated member disposed at one side of said holder and extending laterally away from it, a slide engaging said side of the die holder, means for moving said member lengthwise to push said holder laterally into a predetermined position at one side of said platen passage, a chain attached to said slide and extending across said platen, means for driving the chain to cause the slide to push said holder from said predetermined position to a sec- 0nd position out beyond the adjacent side of said platen, and means at said side of the platen for receiving said die holder in said second position.

2. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, said receiving means including a table for supporting the die holder, the table extending parallel to said platen passage and being long enough to also support a similar die holder, means for moving the table parallel to said passage to move the first-mentioned die holder away from said slide and simultaneously move another die holder into line with the slide, and means for connecting the slide to a die holder on said table for pulling itback into line with said passage.

3. in an extrusion press according to claim 2, said table-moving means including a stationary fluid pressure cylinder, and a piston rod projecting from the cylinder and connected with said table.

4. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, a key extending across the end of said slide adjoining the die holder, said holder having a slot extending from front to back receiving said key to connect the holder to the slide, and said receiving means including means for moving the die holder parallel to said platen passage to slide the holder off said key to thereby disconnect the holder from said slide.

5. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, said chain being an endless chain supported by sprockets, and said chain-driving means being a reversible motor connected to one of said sprockets for turning it.

6. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, vertically spaced parallel guide members engaging the top and bottom of said die holder for guiding it as it is moved along said platen face.

7. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, a stop in the path of said slide for stopping it when the die holder reaches said second position on said receiving means.

8. ln an extrusion press according to claim 1, said slide having a portion interposed between said elonelongated member being a piston rod, and said member-moving means being a stationary fluid pressure cylinder containing said rod and a piston secured to it, said slide extending between said piston rod and die holder and also extending out along the top and bottom of said cylinder. 

1. In an extrusion press, a platen having a vertical face and an extrusion-receiving passage perpendicular to said face, an extrusion die holder slidable horizontally along said face and normally located in line with said passage, a longitudinally movable rigid elongated member disposed at one side of said holder and extending laterally away from it, a slide engaging said side of the die holder, means for moving said member lengthwise to push said holder laterally into a predetermined position at one side of said platen passage, a chain attached to said slide and extending across said platen, means for driving the chain to cause the slide to push said holder from said predetermined position to a second position out beyond the adjacent side of said platen, and means at said side of the platen for receiving said die holder in said second position.
 2. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, said receiving means including a table for supporting the die holder, the table extending parallel to said platen passage and being long enough to also support a similar die holder, means for moving the table parallel to said passage to move the first-mentioned die holder away from said slide and simultaneously move another die holder into line with the slide, and means for connecting the slide to a die holder on said table for pulling it back into line with said passage.
 3. In an extrusion press according to claim 2, said table-moving means including a stationary fluid pressure cylinder, and a piston rod projecting from the cylinder and connected with said table.
 4. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, a key extending across the end of said slide adjoining the die holder, said holder having a slot extending from front to back receiving said key to connect the holder to the slide, and said receiving means including means for moving the die holder parallel to said platen passage to slide the holder off said key to thereby disconnect the holder from said slide.
 5. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, said chain being an endless chain supported by sprockets, and said chain-driving means being a reversible motor connected to one of said sprockets for turning it.
 6. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, vertically spaced parallel guide members engaging the top and bottom of said die holder for guiding it as it is moved along said platen face.
 7. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, a stop in the path of said slide for stopping it when the die holder reaches said second position on said receiving means.
 8. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, said slide having a portion interposed between said elongated member and die holder and engageable by said member.
 9. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, said elongated member being a piston rod, and said member-moving means being a stationary fluid pressure cylinder containing said rod and a piston secured to it.
 10. In an extrusion press according to claim 1, said elongated member being a piston rod, and said member-moving means being a stationary fluid pressure cylinder containing said rod and a piston secured to it, said slide extending between said piston rod and die holder and also extending out along the top and bottom of said cylinder. 